ARTICLES ABOUT DANTE BICHETTE BY DATE - PAGE 2

Resigned to losing slugger Greg Vaughn as a free agent, the Cincinnati Reds acquired left-fielder Dante Bichette from the Colorado Rockies on Saturday for Jeffrey Hammonds and Stan Belinda. The Rockies also sent the Reds $1.9 million to make up the difference in salaries. The 35-year-old Bichette hit 34 homers and drove in 133 runs for the Rockies last season. The Reds are counting on him to replace Vaughn, who hit 45 homers and drove in 118 runs. Hammonds was a backup outfielder last season and Belinda was a middle reliever after coming back from a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Mike Morgan picked up Thursday night where Don Wengert left off, failing to last five innings and forcing manager Jim Riggleman to go to his struggling middle-relief corps early against Colorado. Morgan made his first start for the Cubs since being acquired Tuesday from Minnesota and was charged with five runs on seven hits in four innings, including home runs by Vinny Castilla and Dante Bichette. The Cubs trailed by only one run when Morgan left but--surprise, surprise--the bullpen was knocked around again, putting the Cubs in a 9-3 hole after six innings.

Dante Bichette, Larry Walker and the Colorado Rockies look ready to start the regular season. Bichette hit three home runs and drove in six runs, and Larry Walker hit two more as Colorado connected seven times in all Wednesday to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-10 in Tucson. Walker went 4 for 4, scored four runs and drove in three for Colorado. Vinny Castilla and Greg Colbrunn also homered. The power surge gave the Rockies a chance to practice their version of the Mile High Salute, popularized last season by the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

To struggling hitters around the National League, a road series at Coors Field is usually like a trip to Lourdes. The combination of the thin air, the cozy dimensions and the always hittable Colorado pitchers tend to be a miracle cure for even the slowest of bats. "There ain't a hitter in the world who doesn't look forward to coming here," Mark Grace said. But Coors Field has proven to be Cubs-proof in the last three days, and on Saturday the Cubs' offense was in gridlock again in a 6-3 loss to the Rockies.

By Paul Sullivan. Paul Sullivan covers the Cubs and the National League for the Tribune | June 15, 1997

Dante Bichette backers everywhere claimed he was robbed of the Most Valuable Player Award in 1995. Well, at least Bichette was perturbed over the voting. That was the year the Colorado outfielder led the National League with 40 home runs, 128 runs batted in and a .620 slugging percentage, but lost out to Cincinnati's Barry Larkin, prompting the introduction of the "Coors factor" into baseball's lexicon. The Coors factor, in short, is a theory Colorado players always will be prevented from winning MVP awards because Cindy Crawford probably could hit a home run in Coors Field.

By From Tribune News Services, and From Tribune News Services | September 18, 1996

Hideo Nomo got his no-no--in Coors Field, of all places. Nomo, the sensation from Japan last season, pitched a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-0 victory. With the mound still muddy after a two-hour rain delay and light rain early in the game, Nomo (16-10) pitched from the stretch from the fourth inning on--even with the bases empty. He baffled the National League's top hitting team and managed to pitch a gem in the ballpark many pitchers fear the most.

Rockies 14, Astros 7: In Houston, Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla hit two-run homers and the Rockies broke out of a batting slump, stopping a four-game losing streak. The Rockies, batting just .211 during the first nine games of a road trip, had 18 hits.

With one swing, Colorado Rockies pinch hitter John Vander Wal created instant bedlam and spoiled a brilliant hitting performance by St. Louis' John Mabry. Mabry hit for the cycle, but Vander Wal's three-run homer capped a five-run rally in the ninth inning that rallied the Rockies to a dramatic 9-8 victory Saturday night in Denver. Dennis Eckersley (0-4) could not hold an 8-4 lead in the ninth. Eric Young drew a leadoff walk and Ellis Burks homered. Dante Bichette and Larry Walker, who both homered earlier, followed with singles.